Circuit-controller.



T. G. STILES.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-13.19I3.

mmmm, Patented Dec.12,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

T. G. STILES.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUGIIS 1913.

Patented Bea-12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THOMAS GEORGE S'IILES, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916..

Application filed August 13, 1913. Serial N 0. 784,531.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THoMAs GEORGE S'rILEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Arlington, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in circuit-controllers, especially draw-bridge circuit-controllers of the sliding or plugcontact type, particularly of the multiple plug-contact type, so constructed as to pro vide on cooperative contacting members a large number of points in close and firm engagement to assure the proper passage of current through these contacting members when they are in engagement.

In my prior Patent N 0. 1,030,622, granted June 25, 1912, I have shown a multiple draw-bridge circuit-controller of this general type in which the principal current conducting elements comprise a sliding contact-rod movable into and out of a conducting socket for each unit of the controller to close or open the circuit through such unit; the particular type of sliding contact device illustrated in that case being one in which a contact-rod, angular in cross-sec tion, makes sliding contact at its edges with the surfaces of the contact-socket with which the rod cooperates. This feature of the construction shown in my aforesaid patent is retained in the present case which illustrates a modification of the circuit-com troller of said patent, the principal feature of which modification is the provision of means embodied in said sliding circuitcontroller for making or breaking an electric circuit on that portion of a railway with which the abutment member of the draw-bridge controller is immediately connected. When a draw-bridge traversed by numerous electric circuits passing through a circuit-controller of the type disclosed in my aforesaid patent is opened it is desirable that the opening of the draw-bridge and its controller shall not result in the complete interruption of all circuits, but

that one or more controlling circuits may be closed by the act of opening the drawbridge and its controller, in order that a train standing, for example, at a point near the open draw may be permitted to move out of the block in which it is at the moment. In order to accomplish this result I provide, in connection with the main circuit-controller of my aforesaid patent, auxiliary circuit-controlling means governing a suitable controlling circuit in such a manner that on the opening of the draw said circuit will automatically be closed.

Other features of my present invention not hereinbefore referred to will be hereinafter described and claimed and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan of a multiple drawbridge circuit-controller with parts broken away to show the internal construction of the same; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said controller with parts broken away, and also partly in section; Fig. 3 is a transverse section and rear elevation of the abutment member, the section being taken in line 3-3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail partly in section and partly in side elevation, of one unit of the multiple circuit-controller of the previous views, and shows the principal contacting elements of one of these units in the positions they occupy when the circuit-controller is closed; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the unit shown in the preceding view and is a transverse section of the same taken in line 55, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 6 is an end view similar to Fig. 5, showing the posi tion of the spring-contacts when the contactrod is withdrawn from them, and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a special controlling circuit which will be hereinafter described.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In most respects the circuit-controller of the present application is or may be of substantially the same general construction as that of my aforesaid patent. In the construction shown it comprises a draw-bridge member and an abutment member, the main element of the former being a frame in the form of a substantially rectangular box having side walls, a rear end wall and a bottom, but open at the front to .permit sliding movement of a frame carrying the sliding contact elements of the controller. The

main frame or box may be fastened to a V ments properly a slide-frame is shown as so constructed as to receive and support the desired number of contact-rods of the circuit-controller together with their bindingposts and other cooperative parts.

The main element of tlie'slide-frame illustrated is'a slide or plate, 6, mounted to travel on antifrict'ion rollers, such as 7. It projects at its forward end a short distance beyond the open front end of the box 2 and its forward end corners are shown as beveled. The objects of this construction are to prevent coupling of the male and female members of the circuit-controller unless they are substantially in proper alinement and to bring about, if they are in proper alinement, or substantially so, a self-centering action that will assure the exact alinement of thecomplernentary circuit-controlling elements. This plate 6' serves to support all the movableparts of the male element of the controller; Near the end thereof remote from the abutment member it has a crosshead 8', which constitutes a support for the rear ends of a multiplicity of contact-rods,

each one of which is insulated from every other. Each rod is shown as angular in cross-section, the rods being preferably rectangular and designated respectively by 9. At its rear end each of these rods passes through an insulating bushing, such as 10, carried by the'cross-head, and at its forward end each rod also passes through an insulating" bushing, 11, mounted in a crossboard, 12, loosely guided and held within the walls of the main frame or box 2, to permit vertical movement of said crossboard in centering the main elements of the circuit-controller. The cross-board 12 constitutes merely a supporting guide and insulator for each of the contact-rods 9 and is not fastened to said contact-rods, as is the cross-head 8. As in my prior patent, each of the insulating bushings 11 has associated with it' a spring contact device also insulated from the cross-board 12 and embodying a plurality or circuit of controlling springs or fingers" for making contact with the edges of the rods 9. Insulated binding-posts, such as 13, are also associated with these springcontacts, which are designated by 14, these binding-posts being connected by conductors (notsho'wn) to'a suitable terminal board or boards, such as 15. All of the sliding parts of the slide-frame move back and forth in the box 2, with the'contact-rods sliding through their guiding bushings 11 in the cross-board l2 and moving with the cover and other parts as before described, practically as a unit.

For each sliding contact-rod or plug just described a complementary contact element is provided on the female or abutment member of the circuit-controller. These complementary elements, as here shown, comprise contact-sockets formed in this instance by pairs of contact-fingers secured to blocks of insulating material having suitable open-- ings in them to receive the tapered ends of the contact-rods. Here the contacts of each pair may be of the type illustrated at 16l6, which show spring contact-fingers terminating in transverse substantially U- shaped contacts proper the edges of one of which are adapted to make contact with the inner surface of the other substantially in the same manner that the edges of the contact-rods themselves make contact with surfaces of the contact-springs against which they rub. The object of course is the same in both cases, that is, to assure, as in my prior patent, the making of good contact and the maintenance of bright, clean contact surfaces by the use of an angular contact on one part cooperating with a broad contact surface of the complementary contact element. Suitable binding-posts are shown at 18, to which the contact-fingers 16 are connected respectively, and from these bindingposts conductors may lead to any suitable circuits or electrical devices to be controlled. All of the individual insulating blocks, 19, to which the contacts 16 are secured are preferably mounted in an insulating crossboard, 20, in a manner similar to that described in my aforesaid patent. The end of the box 21, constituting the main element of the female or abutment member of the circuit-controller may be closed by a swinging door, such as 22, which may be secured to the top of the box 21 by suitable devices, such as shown, for locking the door and thus preventing tampering with the parts within 115 the box. The main parts of the bridge and abutment members may be secured to the bridge and the approach thereto substantially as in my aforesaid patent and the cables at the land end of the circuit-controller may be led into the abutment member 1n any proper way. Instead, however, of being fastened down rigidly to its sup port, one of the main members of the Cir-- cuit-controller, in this case the female mem- 125 ber, is supported in such a manner as to be movable sidewise, for the purpose of permitting'it to be moved in that direction by the plate 6 asuflicient distance to assure the entry of said plate into a pocket or guide- 130 plate.

way, 26, formed in said female or abutment member for receiving and guiding said If the sidewise movement required to enable said plate to enter said pocket is excessive the forward end of said plate will strike against stop blocks, such as 27 which will prevent the closing of the circuit-controller. For the purpose of permitting necessary sidewise movement the fastening lugs 28, instead of being secured rigidly to a support, are slotted crosswise of the circuitcontroller, as shown at 29, and bolted to wear-plates, 30, in such a manner as to have this crosswise movement, the wear-plates themselves in this case being suitably secured to supporting means so as to be rigid therewith.

It will be understood, of course, that any suitable number of sliding contact-rods and contact-sockets may be placed in each row and that there may be as many rows or tiers of these as may be necessary, depending upon the number of circuits to be controlled Most of the units of this multiple drawbridge circuit-controller may be used as in my aforesaid patent for controlling straight circuits through the box extending out from each end of the controller. It frequently happens, however, that when a draw-bridge is open, a train may be on the block close to the draw-bridge and ordinarily movement of this train would be prevented, owing to the interruption of the circuit of the block. In order to avoid this and to take care of any other conditions that may arise, one or more of the units of the box will be so modified as to permit the closing of a circuit or circuits when the draw-bridge is open, and the circuit or circuits so closed may operate as controlling circuits for governing the movements of trains and may permit a train or trains, which would otherwise remain at a standstill until the closing of the draw, to proceed and move away from the open draw-bridge, by clearing the indication or other governing agency. In order to provide such a supplementary or special circuit-controlling device one of the contactrods 9 is shown as having one edge thereof cut away and a groove cut in the face thereof, in which is inserted a long strip of insulating material, such as 23, this being usually a long thick strip of fiber. The rod carrying this strip, when it comes in contact with its respective contact-spring 16 on the abutment member of the controller, will have its circuit closed by contact of one metal edge of the rod with one of the contact-springs 16, but when said contact-rod is withdrawn a special circuit will be closed through this pair of contact-springs 16. Of course the strip of insulation 23 serves to prevent the closing of this special circuit except when the draw is open.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated the manner in which my improved draw-bridge circuitcontroller is associated with a draw-bridge containing railway-tracks, etc., and with the approaches thereto, and I have also illustrated in this view a simple circuit including contacts 16, conductors, 24, forming the main elements of the special circuit intended to be controlled by the contacts 16*, and an electromagnet, 25, constituting the principal element controlled by said contacts, that is to say, the element by means of which an electric signal is transmitted to any suitable point for clearing an indication and permitting a train standing in a block close to the draw to proceed away from the drawbridge, or transmitted for any other purpose, as desired. Ordinarily the circuit through the conductors 24 and the electromagnet 25, which is controlled by the contacts 16 is a track-circuit, by means of which the operation of a semaphore or equivalent signal is governed by said electromagnet, but the special circuit which includes the conductors 24 may, as before stated, be used for any proper purpose.

The employment of contacts 16" as a means for controlling such a special circuit or circuits, as just described, does not, of course, interfere in any way with the ordinary functions of the contact-rod and contact-socket corresponding thereto or with those of other contact-rods or sockets, the normal circuits of all of which may be closed through the engagement of the rods with the contact-springs of the sockets in the manner set forth in my prior patent.

What I claim is:

1. In a sliding circuit-controller, the combination with a movable contact-rod, of a pair of cooperative substantially U-shaped conductive circuit-controlling elements in the path of and adapted to be spread by said contact-rod and the edges of one of which are in engagement with inner surfaces of the other when the circuit-controller is open and which are out of contact with each other and in engagement with said contact-rod when the circuit-controller is closed.

2. In a sliding circuit-controller, the combination with a movable contact-rod angular in cross-section, of a pair of cooperative conductive circuit-controlling members in the path of and adapted to be spread by said contactrod and which are in engagement when the circuit-controller is open and which are out of contact with each other and one of which is in surface engagement with edges of said contact-rod when the circuitcontroller is closed.

3. In a sliding circuit-controller, the combination with a movable contact-rod angular in cross-section and embodying an insulating member, of a cooperative spring-contact comprising a pair of conductive contactfingers in the path of and adapted to be tiple insulated contact-rods slidable into and spread by said contact-rod and which arc in engagement when the circuit-controller is open and which are out of contact with each other and the surfaces of which are in engagement respectively with said insulating member and with edges of said contact-rod when the circuitcontroller is closed.

l. The combination with a draw-bridge circuit-controller comprising male and female members, the former of which has mulout of contact-sockets, and the latter oi which hasmultiple insulated contact-sockets for receiving said contact-rods respectively, at leastone of which contact-sockets embodies a pair of oppositely arranged U-shaped conductive circuit-controlling elements in the'path of and adapted to be spread by said contact-rod and the edges of one of which engage surfaces of the other when the cir cuit-controller is open and which are out of contact With each other and in engagement with their respective contact-rod when the circuit-controller is closed, of an electrical controlling circuit leading from the female member and connected with said circuitcontrolling elements, and means for resin ently' forcing the U-shaped elements together. V e

5. A draw-bridge circuit-controller, comprising male and female members, the formerof which has multiple insulated contactrods slidable into and out of contact-sockets and the latter of which has multiple insulated contact-sockets for receiving said contact-rods respectively, said members also having respectively complementary selfcentering elements disposed lengthwise of the circuit-controller and one of which is a guide-way and the other of which is a slide adapted to enter and substantially fill said guide-Way crosswise of the controller and to have relative movement therein after the contact-rods enter said contact-sockets.

6;.A draw-bridge circuit-controller, comprising m'ale and female members, the former of which has multiple insulated coiitactrods slidable into and out of contact-sockets, and the latter of which has multiple insulated contact-sockets for receiving said contact-rods respectively, said members aiso having respectively complementary selfcentering elements disposed lengthwise of the circuit-controller and one of which is a guide-way and the other of which is a plate on which the multiple contact-rods are mounted and which is adapted to enter and substantially fill said guide-way crosswise of the controller and to have relative movement therein after the contact-rods enter said contact-sockets.

7. A draw-bridge circuit-controller, comprising male and female members, the former of which has multiple insulated contactrods slidable into and out of contact-sockets, and the latter of which has multiple insulated contact-sockets for receiving said contact rods respectively, means associated with said rods and sockets for individually guiding the contact-rods, and means for supporting one of said main members of the circuit-controller for movement as a whole transversely of the other.

8. In a sliding circuit controller, the combination with a movable contact rod, of a cooperative contact socket embodying a pair of substantially U-shaped circuit-controlling elements which lie in the path of movement of the contact rod, the legs of one of said ele ments diverging, and resilient means for normally forcing the contact elements to gether whereby the edges of the other element will forcibly engage the inner faces of the diverging legs of the first-mentioned element.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 5th day of August A. D. 1913.

THOMAS GEORGE STILES.

Witnesses:

G. S. CHAMPION, R. EISENSTADT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

